Video of Cairo ruins as Egypt plunges into lawlessness

Police and garbage collectors appeared on the streets of Cairo Monday morning and subway stations reopened after soldiers and neighbourhood watch groups armed with clubs and machetes kept the peace in many districts overnight. Everyday life in Cairo has been turned upside down by the largest anti-government protests in decades in Egypt, which began last Tuesday and have surged since. The overriding concern for almost everyone in Cairo remains the fear of lawlessness. Gangs of thugs have cleared out supermarkets, shopping malls and stores, as well as luxury homes and apartments in affluent residential areas in the suburbs. The police, which before the revolt could be seen on nearly every corner, melted away Friday, giving way to looting and arson. In the meantime, young men stepped in to fill the vacuum left by the police, setting up neighbourhood defence committees armed with guns, clubs and knives to protect their families and property.

• 2011-01-31T16:01:01+00:00
• Duration: 01:58

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